Kings atone for earlier loss by beating Flames, 48-43

Published 3:41 am, Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Josiah Kahl and his Calvary Baptist teammates made the most of their rematch with Midland Home School on Tuesday night.

Two months after losing by 21 points to the Flames, host Calvary clamped down on defense and posted a 48-43 victory in boys' basketball.

"The first time, we just got dusted completely," Kahl said of the Flames' 64-43 win over the Kings on Dec. 21. "But the second time, we really picked it up on defense. We played as a team. We trusted each other."

Kahl and fellow senior Cameron McCargar each scored 11 points to lead the Kings (13-5), while Martin Card had 15 points and Avery Swartz had 10 points for Midland Home School (13-10) in a game that was a defensive struggle for three quarters but featured a high-scoring and exciting finish.

The Kings led 8-7 after the first quarter and 14-13 at the half. Kahl then scored seven points in the third quarter as Calvary stretched its lead to 26-20 going into the fourth.

The Kings then threatened to put the game away. McCargar -- who missed the first game against the Flames with a broken wrist -- scored seven points in an 11-5 run that put Calvary ahead 37-25 midway through the fourth.

But the Flames came back with a 10-2 spurt to get the lead down to 39-35 with 2:20 to play.

Calvary built the lead back to nine, 46-37, in the final minute. Home School then got back-to-back 3-pointers from Dakota Rutkowski and Card to make it 46-43. But Ben VanHolstyn sealed the win for the Kings with a layup in the closing seconds.

"I'm just very pleased with my guys and how they kept their composure and just kept fighting and kept fighting," said Kings' coach John VanHolstyn, whose team held Home School to 13 of 54 (24 percent) shooting from the field.

"I credit Calvary. They played a very good game," said Flames' coach Jerry Swartz. "We didn't make the plays we could have, and they had a lot to do with that.

"The guys made me feel good as a coach," he added. "I was very proud of their effort at the end. They left it all on the court. It just wasn't quite enough."

The Kings' Aaron Wheeler said his team concentrated on containing Avery Swartz and Martin Card, who combined for 39 points in the Flames' December win over the Kings.

"We knew if it was a close game, they would want to pass it out to either Avery or Martin for the (3-pointer), so we defended the 3 well and we defended the lane, because we knew that they would drive if they didn't get the 3-point shot," Wheeler said.

The Flames were only 4 of 22 from 3-point range.

McCargar made his presence felt, scoring nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.

"Obviously he provides the stability and leadership for us," John VanHolstyn said of McCargar. "Josiah and Aaron Wheeler had to carry a lot of (the senior leadership) while he was out. He's our captain. He's the heart of our team."

At the free throw line, Calvary was 13 of 23 and Home School was 13 of 22.

The Kings shot 17 of 37 (46 percent) from the field.

For Calvary, John Reece had nine rebounds, Wheeler had six rebounds, Steven Miller had three steals, and Ben VanHolstyn had eight assists.

For Home School, Tyler Willis had seven rebounds and Andrew Koperski had five rebounds.

Calvary finishes its regular season with a home game Friday against Immanuel Baptist of Corunna, then opens the Michigan Association of Christian Schools tournament the following Friday at home.

Home School is now finished with the regular season and will play in the Home School state tournament starting Friday, Feb. 25 at Morey Courts in Mount Pleasant. The Flames will open against Kalamazoo Home School.

Jerry Swartz said he will probably step down as the Flames' coach after this season, since his son, Avery, is graduating.

"I'm going to miss it," he said, adding of his players: "They like playing with each other, and they like playing for each other."